GIFT  OF 
Bancroft  Library 


I 


The 

Nantucket 

Indians 


By  R.  A.  Douglas-Lithgow,  M.  D.,  L.L.  D. 


Nantucket  ; 

Indians 

By  R.  A.  Douglas-Lithgow,  M.  D.,  L.  L.  D. 


NANTUCKET  : 

INQUIRER  AND  MIRROR  PRESS. 
1911. 


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"*   *  -.» 

FOREWORD 


The  concensus  of  modern  scientific  opinion  favors  the 
belief  that  the  so-called  American-Indian  race  represents 
the  autochthonous  people  or  aborigines  of  the  great  Amer 
ican  Continent.  Referring  to  the  origin  of  the  American 
Indians,  Professor  Pritchard  says:  "The  era  of  their  exis 
tence  as  a  distinct  and  insulated  race  must  probably  be 
dated  as  far  back  as  that  time  which  separated  into 
nations  the  inhabitants  of  the  Old  World,  and  gave  to  each 
branch  of  the  human  family  its  primitive  language  and  in 
dividuality."  The  origin  of  the  Amerinds  of  America  has 
still  to  be  sought  amid  the  sources  of  the  various  races  of 
mankind  from  primeval  times. 

The  Indian  tribes  of  New  England  belonged  to  the  great 
Algonquian  Confederacy — the  most  widely  extended  of  all 
the  North  American  Indians — their  territory  stretching 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Labrador  to  Pamlico  sound, 
and  westward,  from  Newfoundland  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

The  three  principal  Massachusetts  tribes  were  the 
Massachusetts  or  Naticks,  the  Nipmucks,  and  the  Wam- 
panoags,  the  latter  under  the  dominance  of  Massasoit 
when  the  Pilgrims  arrived,  and,  at  that  time,  the  third 
greatest  nation  in  New  England. 

With  regard  to  the  primeval  discovery  of  the  island  of 
Nantucket  by  the  Indians  the  following  legend  is  interest 
ing,  (as  all  legends  are),  and  it  was  related  by  the  abor- 


859572 


^V*   Vie"  ;early    English    settlers,    soon    after    their 

arrival^: •"". 

t.*;  *ifc{f(^B^>t,wi?es;  -a -good  many  moons  ago,  a  bird,  extra- 
ordinary  for  its  size,  used  often  to  visit  the  south  shore  of 
Cape  Cod,  and  carry  from  thence  in  its  talons  a  vast  num 
ber  of  small  children.  Maushope,  who  w<as  an  Indian  giant, 
as  fame  reports,  resided  in  these  parts.  Enraged  at  the 
havoc  among  the  children,  he,  on  a  certain  time,  waded 
into  the  sea  in  pursuit  of  the  bird,  till  he  had  crossed  the 
sound,  and  reached  Nantucket.  Before  Maushope  forded 
the  sound,  the  island  was  unknown  to  the  red  men.  Mau 
shope  found  the  bones  of  the  children  in  a  heap  under  a 
large  tree.  He,  then,  wishing  to  smoke  his  pipe,  ransacked 
the  island  for  tobacco;  but  finding  none,  he  filled  his  pipe 
with  poke — a  weed  which  the  Indians  sometimes  used  as 
a  substitute. 

"Ever  since  this  memorable  event,  fogs  have  been  fre 
quent  on  the  'Cape.  In  allusion  to  this  tradition,  when  the 
aborigines  observed  a  fog  rising,  they  would  say,  'There 
comes  old  Maushope's  smoke.'  "  *(Here  the  legend  un 
fortunately  ends.) 


*  Col.  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Vol.  V.  First  Series,  pa^e  57. 

The  island  of  Nantucket,  when  first  settled  by  the 
whites,  was  occupied  by  two  tribes  whose  names  have  not 
been  preserved.  One  occupied  the  west  end  of  the  island, 
and  was  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  mainland  by  way 
of  Martha's  Vineyard.  The  other  lived  at  the  east  end, 
and  is  said  to  have  come  direct  from  the  mainland.  The 
two  tribes  were  independent  and  were,  at  a  time,  hostile 
to  each  other.  The  tribe  which  came  from  Martha's  Vine 
yard  was  subject  to  the  Wampanoags.** 

**  "Hand-Book  of  American  Indians,"  Vol.  II,  p.  26. 


When  the  original  discovery  of  the  island  of  Nantucket 
was  made  by  foreigners  is  still  a  moot  point,  many  writers 
alieging  that  two  hardy  Norsemen,  Bjorne  Herjulfson,  in 
A.  D.  986,  and  Leif  Ericsson,  in  A.  D.  1000,  during  their 
respective  voyages,  had  both  sighted  the  New  England 
coast,  and  that  Leif  had  visited  Nantucket,  and  bestowed 
upon  it  the  name  of  Nauticon.  If  this  is  probable,  it  is 
equally  probable  that  the  name  Nauticon  was  merely  a 
Norse  approximation  to  the  original  Indian  name  of  the 
island,  viz:  Natocket*.  It  is  now  generally  believed,  how 
ever,  that  neither  of  these  navigators  got  nearer  to  the 
New  England  coast  than  Newfoundland  and  Nova  Scotia, 
although  there  is  much  to  be  said  on  both  sides  of  the 
question. 

*  H.  B.  Worth:  Nantucket  Hist.  Asso.,  Vol.  11,  Bull.  6,  p.  290. 

With  regard  to  ''Vinland",  which  Leif  Ericsson  is  said 
to  have  visited  on  his  way  to  Greenland,  a  circumstantial 
account  of  his  voyaging  is  given  in  the  Norse  saga — the 
Flateyarbok  and  the  Hauksbok.  These  accounts  were 
subsequently  confirmed  by  Adam  of  Bremen,  in  his  His 
tory  of  the  Bremen  Church,  etc.,  and  in  the  MS3.  of  num 
erous  historians,  from  the  eleventh  to  the  fifteenth  century; 
but  the  conjecture  is  not  adequately  substantiated  by 
facts  to  warrant  a  conclusion,  and  it  seems  impossible  in 
this  age  to  divest  the  ancient  story  from  the  cloud  of  myth 
and  mystery  which  surrounds  it. 

It  seems  strange,  nevertheless,  that  the  name  Nautican 
is  that  applied  to  Nantucket  island  by  Sir  Ferdinand 
Gorges  (circa  1630),  and  Nantican  in  Hough's  book,  under 
the  date  1641. 

John  Cabot,  the  navigator — of  Italian  birth — settled  in 
Bristol,  England,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VII.,  and  he 
obtained  a  patent  from  the  King  "for  the  purpose  of  dis- 


6 

covering  unknown  lands  in  th,e  eastern,  western  and  north 
ern  seas."  His  son  Sebastian  accompanied  him,  and  in 
1497-1498,  they  cruised  along  the  coast  of  America  from 
Florida  to  Labrador.  The  claim  of  the  English  Govern 
ment  to  Nantucket,  Martha's  Vineyard  and  the  Elizabeth 
Islands  was  based  upon  these  voyages  of  the  Cabots. 

Nantucket,  however,  looms  out  of  mythland  and  into 
genuine  history,  when,  in  June  or  July,  1602,  Bartholomew 
Gosnold,  an  English  mariner,  landed  upon  its  shore  at 
Sankaty  Head,  when  he,  and  some  thirty  sailors,  were  en 
route  for  Virginia,  seeking  a  new  plantation. 

In  May,  1605..  Captain  Weymouth  is  said  to  have  "be 
come  entangled  among  the  Nantucket  Shoals"  *,  and  in 
1620  Captain  Dermer  certainly  visited  the  island. 


*  Drake's  Nooks  and  Corners  of  New  England,  p.  324. 

In  approaching  the  consideration  of  the  Nantucket  In 
dians,  the  following  beautiful  legend  *  cannot  be  passed 
over  in  silence,  as  it  reveals  the  fact  that  self-sacrifice 
and  the  tender  passion  are  not  limited  in  their  influence 
to  any  race  or  color,  but  are  the  hallowed  heritage  of  man 
kind.  Such  a  record  deserves  a  foremost  place  in  any 
associated  local  history.  The  incident  referred  to  is  sup 
posed  to  have  occurred  about  1630,  or,  as  Dr.  Ewer  sug 
gested,  about  thirty  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  white 
men. 

*  A   worthy  poetic  setting  of  this    legend     was  published    by 
"The  Inquirer  and  Mirror"  nearly  forty  years  ago,  from  the  per, 
of  Miss   Charlotte   P.   Baxter.     It    was    republished  in   the   "In 
quirer"  of  January  21st,  1911,  and  the  poetic  quotations  in  this 
preface  have  been  taken  from  it. 

Wauwinet  was  the  sage  and  beloved  Sachem  of  the 
Northeastern  section  of  the  Island.  He  had  one  daughter, 
Wonoma, — 

"The  loveliest  and   the  gentlest," 


and  they  were  devoted  to  each  other. 

"Well  she  knew  the  art  of  healing; 

Skilled  was  she  in  all  the  uses 

Of  the  herbs  that  grew  around  them. 

And  whenever  from  the  waters 

Spoke  the  voice  of  the  Great  Spirit, 

She  could  tell  unto  her  people 

What   the    words   were,    and    the   meaning." 

Fever  had  broken  out  among  the  natives  of  the  south 
western  section  of  the  island,  which  was  under  the  dom 
inance  of  the  Chief  Autopscot,  and  he  feared  that  his  peo 
ple  would  be  swept  away  by  the  rapid  spread  of  the 
pestilence.  In  his  extremity  he  thought  of  the  fair  and 
graceful  Wonoma,  Wauwinet's  daughter,  and  knowing  she 
possessed  the  knowledge  of  a  great  medicine-man,  he  des 
patched  one  of  his  maidens,  named  Wosoka,  to  speed  to 
Wonoma, — 

"Praying  her  to  come  and  save  them, 
From  the  cruel,  blasting  Fever." 

Wonoma,  always  delighting  to  do  good,  accompanied  the 
little  maid  back  to  her  stricken  people,  and,  in  a  little 
time,  the  plague  was  stayed,  and  she  healed  and  comforted 
those  who  would  have  died  but  for  her  skilful  and  kindiy 
help.  By  her  skill,  her  winsomeness  and  her  sympathy 
she  won  the  hearts  of  all  the  natives,  and,  when  the  time 
of  her  departure  oame,  they  begged  her  to  remain  with 
them,  so  that  they  might  show  their  gratitude. 
"For  the  boon  of  Life  She  gave  them." 

Then  the  brave  Autopscot  pleaded,  not  only  for  his  peo 
ple,  but  for  himself,  that  she  should  not  go  from  them,  and 
he  ended  by  eloquently  and  fervently  declaring  his  love 
for  her;  and  Wonoma,  deeply  touched,  smilingly  replied:  — 

"That  because  She  loved  his  people 
But  more  truly  loved  their  leader, 
She  would  come  again  among  them, — 
Come  again  to  go  not  from  them." 

Later,  the  friendly  and  fraternal  feeling  which  had  long 


8 

existed  between  the  tribes  of  Wauwinet  and  Autopscot 
gradually  changed  to  feelings  of  anger  and  hatred  in  con 
sequence  of  some  petty  differences  as  to  the  dividing  line 
between  their  respective  territories.  A  feud  was  gener 
ated  and  bloodshed  was  threatened  between  the  contending 
parties.  Wauwinet  and  his  braves,  in  solemn  council,  had 
agreed  upon  a  subtle  plan  for  overcoming  their  enemies; 
but  W'onoma  had  overheard  the  deliberations  of  the  war- 
council,  and  resolved  to  save  her  lover  at  all  hazards. 
When  her  people  were  asleep  she  stole  out  of  her  wigwam, 
and,  securing  a  canoe,  rowed  through  the  darkness,  with 
a  prayer  in  her  heart  to  the  Father  of  all  mercies  that  she 
might  be  enabled  to  save  him  who  was  now  dearer  to  her 
than  even  her  own  people.  Over  sea  and  land  she  hur 
ried  on,  her  feet  bleeding  and  weary,  and  when  she  arrived 
at  her  destination,  she  was  completely  exhausted.  When 
she  had  found  him  whom  her  heart  desired,  she  told  him 
what  she  had  heard,  and  leaving  her  in  charge  of  some  of 
the  maidens  to  rest,  Autopscot  called  his  people  together, 
and  bade  them  to  be  prepared  to  receive  the  enemy  on  the 
morrow. 

When,  next  day,  Wauwinet  and  his  braves  proceeded  to 
attack  the  enemy  unawares,  and  found  them  armed  and 
ready  to  receive  them,  instead  of  unprepared  as  he  had 
expected,  he  simply  turned  around,  and,  with  his  warriors 
retraced  his  footsteps  to  his  own  possessions. 

On  the  following  evening,  as  Wauwinet  stood  in  deep 
thought  at  the  door  of  his  wigwam,  an  oncoming  footstep 
aroused  him,  and,  bending  courteously,  Autopscot  stood 
before  him,  and  thus  addressed  the  father  of  his  love: 

Oh,  my  father!  Oh,  most  noble! 
Dark  have  been  the  days  about  us, 
And  still  darker  have  the  nights  been; — 
In  our  hearts  the  darkest  hatred; 
Hear  me  speak,  Oh  mighty  father! 
For  the  love  I  bear  Wonoma, — 
For  the  sake  of  both  our  people, 
May  there  not  be  peace  between  us? 


9 

Wauwinet's  brow  was  clouded  with  anger  as  Autopscot 
spoke,  but  gradually  the  frown  relaxed,  and  when  the 
brave  young  chief  had  finished,  the  elder  was  silent  for  a 
time,  and  thus  replied  in  tones  of  friendly  feeling:  — 


**»»»***  (Oh,  my  son,  Autopecot, 

Great  has  been  the  lesson  taught  me, 

That  I,  myself,  am  not  almighty, — 

That  there  is  a  power  beyond  me, 

Unto  which  I  have  to  yield  me. 

Great  the  love  I  bear  Wonoma, 

And  if  she  so  truly  loves  you, 

There  should  only  be  between  us 

Words  and  thoughts  that  are  most  friendly." 

When  Wauwinet  had  thus  spoken,  the  two  chiefs  grasped 
each  other  by  the  hand  in  mutual  affection,  and,  before 
they  parted,  they  amicably  arranged  between  them  the 
land  which  had  caused  their  dispute,  and  while  pledging 
themselves  to  enduring  peace,  Wauwinet  gladly  sanctioned 
the  union  of  Wonoma  and  Autopscot.  From  that  day  to 
this  Peace  has  reigned  over  and  blest  the  island  of  Nan- 
tucket. 


11 


The  Settlement  and  the  Natives 


The  story  of  the  transfer  of  the  Island  of  Nantucket 
from  the  English  Government  to  Thomas  Mayhew,  and 
from  him  and  the  Indians  to  the  white  settlers,  has  so 
often  been  told  that  a  mere  summary  is  all  that  is  re 
quired  here,  in  order  to  preserve  the  continuity  of  the 
narrative. 

Nantucket  was  included  in  the  Royal  grant  to  Plymouth 
Company  in  1621,  and  Lord  'Stirling  and  Sir  Ferdinand 
Gorges  were  the  Commissioners  deputed  to  promote  the 
colonization  of  the  territory,  including  the  islands  south  of 
Cape  Cod. 

Lord  Stirling  appointed  James  Forrett  >as  his  agent  in 
New  York  for  the  sale  or  other  disposal  of  the  Colony,  and 
Forrett  sold  the  island  of  Nantucket,  in  1641,  (when  it  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Province  of  New  York),  to 
Thomas  Mayhew,  an  Englishman,  who  emigrated  to  New 
England  in  1631,  and  who  first  settled  at  Watertown.  May- 
hew  not  only  purchased  Nantucket,  and  the  adjacent 
islands,  but  became  a  part  proprietor  of  Martha's  Vine 
yard  and  Governor  of  that  island.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
a  good  colonizer — always  a  friend  to  the  Indians — and  was 
the  means  of  preventing  them  from  engaging  in  Philip's 
war.  He  founded  Edgartown  in  1647,  and  from  him  were 
descended  numerous  missionaries  to  the  Indians,  amongst 
whom  they  had  much  influence,  and  spoke  the  Indian  lang 
uage  fluently. 


12 

The  islands  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Mayhews 
(father  and  son),  until  1659,  when  they  were  transferred 
to  ten  purchasers,  including  Mayhew  himself,  (as  he  re 
served  to  himself  and  his  heirs  one-twentieth  part  of  the 
property  for  his  own  use.) 

Prom  a  reliable  genealogy  of  the  Coffin  family  *  it  ap 
pears  that  in  the  spring  of  1659  "Tristram  Coffin  proceeded 
upon  a  voyage  of  inquiry  and  observation — first  to  Martha's 
Vineyard  where  he  secured  Peter  Folger,  the  grandfather 
of  Benjamin  Franklin,  as  an  interpreter  of  the  Indian  lan 
guage;  and  thence  to  Nantucket,  his  object  being  to  ascer 
tain  the  temper  and  disposition  of  the  Indians,  and  the 
capabilities  of  the  island,  so  that  he  might  report  to  the 
citizens  of  Salisbury  what  inducements  for  emigration 
thither  were  offered." 


*  Vide  Godfrey's   Island  of   Nantucket,  p.  169. 

He  was  evidently  impressed  favorably  by  what  he  saw 
and  heard,  for,  when  he  returned  to  Salisbury,  Mass.,  >i 
company  was  formed,  and  the  purchase  of  the  island  deter 
mined.  In  the  autumn  of  1659  Thomas  Macy,  Edward 
Starbuck,  James  Coffin,  Isaac  Coleman  and  some  of  their 
wives  and  children  sailed  in  an  open  boat  for  Nantucket, 
where  they  arrived  safely,  and  spent  the  winter  of  1659-60 
on  the  island. 

In  July,  1660,  Starbuck  returned  to  Salisbury  and  Ames- 
bury,  and  induced  a  number  of  families  to  accompany  him 
back  to  Nantucket,  and  as  time  went  on  the  little  colony 
received  numerous  additions.  * 


*  Most,  if  not  all,  of  the  English  settlers  came  from  Salis 
bury,  Mass,  and  its  neighborhood. 

Bach  of  the  original  colonists  was  permitted  to  name  an 
associate,  so  that  the  island  was  primarily  divided  into 
twenty  shares,  and  as  these  were  anxious  to  add  to  their 


13 

number,  and  to  induce  artisans  and  mechanics  to  come 
among  them,  the  number  of  shares  was  ultimately 
increased  to  twenty-seven,  these  including  the  entire 
island,  with  the  exception  of  the  "common"  land,  and  that 
reserved  by  Mr.  Mayhew  for  his  own  use.  *  * 

**  For  copies  of  Mr.  Mayhew's  deeds  Vide  Macy's  History  of 
Nantucket. 

During  the  next  hundred  years — say  from  1664  to  1774 — 
the  records  contain  the  many  transfers  of  lots  of  land 
deeded  by  the  Indians  to  the  English,  until,  indeed,  the 
entire  island  became  the  property  of  the  white  settlers. 

Before  the  legal  purchase  of  the  island  could  be  ratified, 
it  was  necessary  to  secure  the  sanction  of  the  representa 
tive  Indian  chiefs  and  this  was  duly  obtained  as  appears 
from  the  following  deed,  dated  May  10th,  1660:  — 

SACHEMS'  DEED  OF   NANTUCKET. 

These  presents  witness,  May  the  tenth,  sixteen  hundred 
and  sixty,  that  we,  Wanackmamack  and  Nickanoose, 
head  Sachems  of  Nantucket  island,  do  give,  grant,  bar 
gain,  and  sell  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew  of  Marthas  Vine 
yard,  Tristram  Coffin,  Senior,  Thomas  Macy,  Christopher 
Hussey,  Richard  Swain,  Peter  Coffin,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Thomas  Barnard,  John  Swain  and  William  Pile,  all  the 
Land,  Meadow,  Marshes,  Timber  and  Wood,  and  all  ap 
purtenances  thereunto  belonging,  and  being  and  lying 
from  the  west  end  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  unto  the 
Pond,  called  by  the  Indians,  Waqutuquab,  and  from  the 
head  of  that  Pond,  upon  a  straight  line,  unto  the  Pond 
situated  by  Monomoy  Harbor  or  Creek,  now  called  Wheel 
er's  Creek,  and  so  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  said 
Pond  to  the  sea,  that  is  to  say,  all  the  right  that  we,  the 
aforesaid  -Sachems  have  in  the  said  tract  of  land,  pro 
vided  that  none  of  the  Indian  Inhabitants,  in  or  about  the 
woodland,  or  whatsoever  Indians,  within  the  last  purchase 
of  land,  from  the  head  of  the  Pond  to  Monomoy  Harbor, 
shall  be  removed  without  full  satisfaction.  And  we.  the 
aforesaid  Sachems,  do  give,  grant,  bargain  and  sell,  the 


14 

one-half  of  the  remainder  of  the  meadows  and  marshes 
upon  all  other  parts  of  the  Island.  And  also  that  the 
English  people  shall  have  what  grass  they  shall  need  for 
to  mow,  out  of  the  remainder  of  the  meadows  and  marshes 
on  the  Island,  so  long  as  the  English  remain  upon  the 
Island,  and  also  free  liberty  for  timber  and  wood  upon 
any  part  of  the  Island  within  the  jurisdiction.  And  also, 
we,  the  aforesaid  Sachems,  do  full  grant  free  liberty  to  the 
English  for  the  feeding  all  sorts  of  cattle  on  any  part 
of  the  Island,  after  Indian  Harvest  is  ended  until  planting 
time,  or  until  the  first  day  of  May,  from  year  to  year  for 
ever,  for  and  in  consideration  of  twelve  pounds  already 
paid,  and  fourteen  pounds  to  be  paid  within  three  months 
after  the  date  hereof. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  purchase  of  land,  and 
other  appurtenances,  as  aforementioned,  to  them,  Mr. 
Thomas  Macy,  Tristram  Coffin,  Thomas  Mayhew,  and  the 
rest  aforementioned,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  the  said  Sachems,  have  here 
unto  set  our  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  above 
written. 

The  sign  of  Wanackmamack  [S] 
The  sign  of  Nickanoose  [S] 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  in  the  presence  of  us 
Peter  Folger, 
Felix  Kuttashamaquat, 
Edward  Starbuck. 

I  do  witness  this  deed  to  be  a  true  deed,  according  to 
the  interpretation  of  Felix  the  interpreter;  also  I  heard 
Wanackmamack,  but  two  weeks  ago,  say  that  the  sale 
made  by  Nickanoose  and  he  should  be  good,  and  that  they 
would  do  so,  whatever  comes  of  it. 

Witness  my  hand,  this  17th  day  of  first  month,  1664. 

PETER  FOLGER. 

Witness:    Mary  Starbuck. 

The  mark  of  John  (I.  C.)  Coffin. 

Wanackmamack  and  Nickanoose  acknowledge  the  above 
written  to  be  their  act  and  deed,  in  the  presence  of  th'e 
General  Court,  this  12th  of  June,  1667,  as  attest. 

MATTHEW  MAYHEW, 
Secretary  to  the  General  Court. 


15 

It  is  rather  curious  that  this  deed,  although  duly 
witnessed  on  May  10th,  1660,  was  not  confirmed  by  Peter 
Folger  until  January  first,  1664,  and  did  not  receive  offic 
ial  attestation  by  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Court  until 
the  12th  of  June,  1677. 

This  deed  purchased  the  island  from  the  original  paten 
tee  and  a  greater  part  of  it  from  the  Indians,  and  the  Eng 
lish  are  said  to  have  paid  £26  for  it.  Almost  a  year  before 
the  execution  of  the  above  deed,  however,  what  is  known 
as  "The  First  Indian  Deed"  was  executed  by  Nickanoose 
and  Nanahuma  on  June  20th,  1859.  It  is  as  follows: 

'This  doth  witness  that  we  Nickanoose  of  Nan  tucket, 
Sachem,  and  Nanahuma  of  Nantucket,  'Sachem,  have  sold 
unto  Thomas  Mayhew  of  the  Vineyard  the  plain  at  the 
west  end  of  Nantucket  that  is  according  to  the  figure 
under  written,  to  him  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
In  consideration  whereof  we  have  received  by  earnest  oi 
the  said  Thomas  Mayhew  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds.  Also 
the  said  Sachems  have  sold  the  said  Mayhew  of  the  Vine 
yard  the  use  of  the  meadow  and  to  take  wood  for  the  use 
of  him,  the  .said  Mayhew,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  hereof,  we  the  Sachems  aforesaid  have  here 
unto  set  our  hands  this  20th  of  June,  1659. 

The  said  Acamy  lyeth  north  and  by  east,  and  south  by 
west  or  near  it." 

NICKANOOSE,   +    (his   mark.) 
NANAHUMA,     X     (his    mark.) 
Witness  hereunto: 

Mr.  Harry, 
John  Coleman, 
Thomas  Macy, 
Tristram  Coffin. 

I  shall  refer  more  particularly  to  this  deed  presently. 

As  an  example  of  further  deeds  the  following  may  be 
quoted. 

January  5th,  1660,  Nickanoose  out  of  free  voluntary  love 
for  Edward  Starbuck  gave  him  "Coretue",  which  was  re 
assigned  by  Edward  Starbuck,  August  30th,  1668. 


16 

May  10th,  1660,  Wanackmamack  and  Nicornoose,  Head 
Sachems  of  Nantucket,  sold  unto  the  first  purchasers  be 
tween  west  end  of  island  and  pond  called  by  the  Indians 
Waqutuquat  (Waquittaquah) — then  on  a  straight  line  to 
pond  by  Monomoy  harbour;  also  half  of  remainder  of  mea 
dows  and  marshes  on  all  other  parts  of  the  island. 

Witnessed  by  Peter  Folger,  Edward  Starbuck  and  Felix 
Kuttashamaquat. 

June  22d,  1662,  Wanackmamack  signed  a  deed  conveying 
a  neck  of  land  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  island  known 
as  Pocomo  Neck.  This  was  witnessed  by  the  younger  Wan- 
winet,  son  of  Nickanoose  and  by  Peter  Folger.  The  pur 
chase  was  made  by  Tristram  Coffin  and  Thomas  Macy. 

February  20th,  1661,  W'anackmamack,  Head  Sachem, 
sold  the  west  half  of  Nantucket.  * 


*See  note  **  page  22. 

November  18th,  1671,  shows  that  Tristram  Coffin  bought 
of  Wanackmamack  and  Nicornoose  from  Monomoy  to  Wa- 
quittaquage  pond,  Manahumack  Neck,  and  all  from  Wesco 
to  the  West  end  of  Nantucket. 

June  20th.  1682,  Deed  of  Nicornoose,  Sachem,  to  James 
Coffin,  William  Worth  and  John  Swain—  the  grass  and 
herbage  of  all  his  lands  from  Indian  harvest  to  first  of 
May. 

And  thus  the  land  sales  go  on,  until  1774,  when  tlie 
sachems  and  Indians  had  virtually  sold  every  spot  in  their 
possession  to  the  English. 

As  Mr.  H.  B.  Worth  aptly  points  out,  "Nickanoose  signed 
deeds  only  of  territory  belonging  to  some  other  sachem; 
;he  fact  is  true  of  Wanackmamack.  Neither  signed  a 
deed  of  any  portion  of  the  territory  under  his  direct  con 
trol.  The  Sachem  Attapehat  (Autopscot),  as  far  as  has 
been  found  never  signed  any  deed." 

I  can  only  account  for  these  facts,    by    assuming  that 


17 

these  Chief  Sachems  thought  it  beneath  their  dignity  to 
sign  deeds  conveying  their  own  property,  while,  at  the 
same  time  they  permitted  no  deeds  to  be  signed  without 
their  approval  and  attestation.  This  may  appear  a  lame 
suggestion,  but  it  is  the  best  I  can  offer. 

The  Provincial  Governor  of  New  York  in  1671,  (Lord 
Lovelace),  thought  it  desirable  to  obtain  a  new  deed,  from 
the  Sachems,  attesting  the  legality  of  the  land  sales,  and 
an  assurance  that  the  stipulated  terms  had  been  duly 
complied  with,  before  issuing  a  new  patent.  The  necessary 
proofs  were  furnished  in  that  year  by  Wanackm  amack 
the  Chief  Sachem. 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  Mr.  Thomas  Mayhew, — the 
original  purchaser  of  the  island,  had  acquired  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  Indian  language  in  association  with  the 
Indians  of  the  more  western  island;  and  that  Peter  Folger 
who  also  resided  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  was,  in  1663,  en 
gaged  by  Tristram  Coffin  as  interpreter,  and  to  officiate 
in  Nantucket,  as  miller,  weaver  and  surveyor. 

What  has  been  written  thus  far  will,  it  is  hoped,  serve 
to  illustrate  the  conditions  under  which  the  white  settlers 
became  established  on  Nantucket,  and  I  now  propose  to 
deal  briefly  with  the  Indians  whom  they  found  there  on 
their  arrival.  It  may  be  noted  that  the  names  of  many  of 
the  original  white  settlers  are  perpetuated  in  teeming  num 
bers  among  the  inhabitants  of  Nantucket  until  the  present 
day. 

With  regard  to  the  number  of  Indians  occupying  the 
island  when  the  whites  arrived  the  statements  vary  consid 
erably,  some  writers  alleging  3000,  others  1500,  and  some 
still  less.  There  is  some  difficulty  in  forming  a  correct 
estimate,  but  it  is  known  as  a  fact  that  they  only  num 
bered  about  360  before  they  became  victims  to  the  epi 
demic  which  destroyed  so  many  of  them. 


18 

When  Nantucket  was  purchased  by  the  colonists  in  1659, 
there  were  two  Chief  Sachems  Wanackmamack  and  Nic- 
ornoose  (acting  probably  for  Wauwinet),  and  at  least  two 
other  Sachems,  Autopscot  (or  Attapehat)  and  Potconet— 
besides  a  few  petty  Sachems — governing  all  the  Indians  on 
Nantucket  and  Tuckernuck.  It  may  be  assumed  that  at 
this  time  Wauwinet  was  old  and  feeble,  and  that  his  eldest 
son,  known  as  Nicornoose,  acted  as  his  deputy,  inasmuch 
as  among  several  of  the  earliest  deeds  we  find  Nicornoose 
signing  as  Sachem,  and  there  are  no  signatures  by  his 
father.  Mr.  Zaccheus  Macy,  in  his  valuable  letter  to  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  dated  October  2d,  1792  * 
mentions  Wauwinet  as  living  when  the  settlers  arrived,  but 
alludes  to  him  as  "the  old  Sachem." 


*  Vide  Macy's  History  of  Nantucket. 

Among  the  Indian  tribes  there  were  generally  one  or  two 
Sachems  who  controlled  all  the  others.  These  were 
known  as  'Chief  or  Head  Sachems,  and  they  exercised 
absolute  control.  Such  in  Nantucket  were  Wanackma 
mack  and  Wauwinet  or  his  son  and  successor,  Nicornoose. 

According  to  Zaccheus  Macy,  Wanackmamack's  terri 
tory  represented  the  southeast  of  the  island  and  was 
bounded  by  a  line  running  from  Toupchue  pond  in  the 
south,  northward,  roughly  to  Gibbs'  pond,  and  so  over 
toward  Podpis  swamp,  and  then  eastward  to  Sesacacha 
pond. * 


*  These,  and  the  boundaries  of  the  other  Sache'ms'  property 
are  clearly  delineated  on  Dr.  Ewer's  map  of  Nantucket. 

Wanackmamack  had  one  son,  Saucoauso  or  Jeptha,  who 
married  Eastor. 

Saucoauso  had  two  sons,  Cain  and  Abel. 

Cain  had  one  daughter,  Jemima,  who  married  James 
Shay,  Shea  or  Shaa. 

Abel  had  two  sons,  Ben  Abel  and  Eben  Abel. 

Wanackmamack    died    before    June    9th,    1682,    because 


19 

his  son,  Saucoauso,  on  this  date,  "having  understood  that 
his  father  Wanackinamack  now  deceased,  had  granted 
(to)  English  pasturage  on  east  end  of  island,  also  sells 
same." 

Wauwinet's  boundary-line  adjoined  that  of  Wanack- 
mamack  on  the  north,  extending  due  north  to  Coatue  and 
Nauma,  westward  to  Wesco  (now  Nantucket),  and  hence, 
almost  due  south  to  Weeweder  pond. 

Wauwinet  had  two  sons,  Isaac  or  Nicornoose, (also known 
as  Nickanoose)  and  Waupordongga,  and  one  daughter,  Wo- 
noma,  who  married  Autopscot. 

Xicornoose  had  two  sons,  Joshua  and  Isaac  Wauwinet, 
and  one  daughter,  Askommopoo,  by  his  wife.  Askommc- 
poo  married  Spoospotswa,  known  as  "Spotso." 

Nicornoose  forsook  his  wife  and,  by  another  woman,  had 
two  sons,  Wat  and  Paul  Noose. 

Joshua  Nicornoose  was  so  disgusted  by  his  father's 
leaving  his  mother  that  he  left  home  altogether,  and  did 
not  return  until  after  an  absence  of  over  50  years,  when 
he  claimed  his  inheritance  and  after  some  delay,  it  was 
restored  to  him. 

Autopscot's  jurisdiction  extended  over  the  southwest  of 
the  island  from  Weeweder  pond  northerly  to  Monomoy, 
and  then  westward  to  the  Popsquatchet  hills  and  to  Hum 
mock  pond. 

Autopscot  had  a  son,  Harry  Poritain,  or  Beretan,  by 
Wonoma,  his  wife,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Wauwinet. 

Harry  Poritain  had  a  son  named  Isaac  Masauquet. 

Masauquet  had  a  son  named  Peter. 

Peter  had  a  son  known  as  Lame  Isaac,  who  ceded  the 
last  rights  of  his  sachemdom. 

Autopscot  had  also  grandchildren  named  Tashama,  of 
whom  more  anon. 

Potconet's    (or   Pottacohannet's)    dominions    are   uncer- 


20 

tain,  and  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  their  limitations.  It  is 
at  least  certain  that  he  was  Sachem  of  the  adjacent  island 
of  Tuckernuck,  but  Zaccheus  Macy,  in  his  well  known 
letter,  states  that  his  bounds  extended  from  Madaket 
down  eastward  to  Wesko  and  Capaum  pond,  thus  lying 
north  of  Autopscot's  possessions,  and  that  they  also  in 
cluded  the  western  coast  Moreover,  Dr.  Ewer's  map, — 
probably  based  upon  the  information  supplied  by  Macy— 
delineates  the  northwestern  section  of  the  island  as  hav 
ing  belonged  to  Potconet;  but  no  proof  is  in  evidence,  and 
although  it  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  some  sachem 
must  have  represented  this  section  of  the  island,  no  deed 
has  been  found  to  cover  it.  Macy  also  asserts  that  Pot 
conet  sold  all  his  rights  to  the  English  settlers,  save  those 
reserved  and  secured  to  some  of  the  old  natives,  known  as 
the  Hoights  'and  Jafets — in  the  neighborhood  of  Wanna- 
comet  or  Capaum  pond. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  from  a  foot-note  to  Hough's  Nantucket 
Papers,  it  appears  that,  on  February  20th,  1661,  Wanack- 
mamack,  Head-Chief  of  Nantucket,  sold  to  Tristram  Coffin, 
ST.,  Peter  Coffin,  Tristram  Coffin,  Jr.,  and  James  Coffin, 
for  £10,  half  of  the  island  of  Tuckernuck — one  half  down, 
and  the  other,  when  Thomas  Mayhew  decides  who  is  the 
proper  owner. 

Potconet,  or  Pottacohannet  had  two  sons,  Akeamong,  or 
Ahkeiman,  and  Jacob. 

Why  did  neither  of  these  sons  claim  his  rights  until 
1672 — a  period  of  11  years?  Was  Potconet  living  in  1661? 
These  questions  have  still  to  be  answered,  although  I  have 
unsuccessfully  sought  in  every  direction  for  a  satisfactory 
reply. 

In  the  Registry  of  Nantucket  Deeds,  under  date  June  20, 
1672,  is  the  following  entry:  "Ahkeiman  laying  claim  to 
part  of  Tuckanuck  his  claim  thereto  is  found  no  other  but 


21 

as  he  was  a  duke  or  principal  man  upon  Nantucket;  the 
Nantucket  Sachems,  together  with  his  father,  having  soid 
Tuckanuck,  it  is  ordered  that  he  shall  have  such  a  part  or 
portion  of  land  for  his  use  at  Nantucket  of  the  present 
Sachems  as  will  become  one  of  such  quality,  and  a  portion 
of  the  whales." 

On  page  211  of  the  Book  of  Town  Records,  dated  March, 
1681,  there  is  a  record  of  a  bargain  between  James  Coffin, 
Peter  Coffin,  John  Coffin,  and  Stephen  Coffin,  and  Ackea- 
mong  and  Jacob,  sons  of  Pottacohannet  (Potconet),  con 
cerning  Tuckanuckett,  said  Ackeamong  and  Jacob  claim 
ing  half  of  it.  The  said  Coffins  having  delivered  them  40 
acres  arabie  land  on  Nantucket  and  £5,  and  disclaiming 
any  right  to  any  whale,  the  said  Ackeamong  and  Jacob  re 
nounce  any  claim  to  any  part  of  Tuckernuck,  reserving 
liberty  to  save  their  whale  that  may  come  ashore. 

To  this  is  affixed  the  marks  of  Ackeamong  and  Jacob, 
James  Coffin  and  Stephen  Coffin,  6th  of  March,  1681. 

Witnessed  by  William  Worth  and  Richard  Pincom 
(Pinkham),  and  acknowledged  on  the  same  date  before 
William  WTorth,  magistrate. 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  why  the  order  of  the  Court 
made  in  1672,  was  not  carried  out  until  1681 — a  period  of 
nine  years. 

Potconet  must  therefore,  have  died  before  March  6th, 
1681,  or  his  sons  could  not  have  made  the  above  agree 
ment;  if,  indeed,  he  was  not  dead  before  1672,  when  Akea- 
mong  made  his  first  claim. 

Some  confusion  has  arisen  as  to  the  standing  of  Nana- 
huma,  who  signed  the  first  Indian  deed  with  Nickanoose. 
Mr.  H.  Barnard  Worth*  says:  .  .  .  "They  (the  Eng 
lish)  obtained  a  deed,  dated  June  20th,  1659,  from  the 

*  Bulletin  ?>.  Vol.  II,  p.  112.  Nantucket  Historical  Association's 
Publications. 


22 

Sachems  Nickanoose  and  Nanahuma,  of  a  tract  comprising 
the  section  of  Nantucket  west  of  Hummock  Pond.** 
George  Nanahuma  was  the  sachem  of  the  Indians  that 
lived  in  this  section  but  Nickanoose  held  some  sway  over 
him,  and  joined  in  the  conveyance."  With  this  I  am  in 
perfect  accord,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Worth's  using 
the  definite  instead  of  the  indefinite  article,  as  indicated 
in  boldface  in  the  above  quotation.  I  believe  that  it  should 
read  thus:  "Comprising  a  section  of  Nantucket  west  of 
Hummock  Pond";  and  further,  "George  Nanahuma  was  a 
sachem  of  the  Indians,  etc."  The  force  of  this  will  be  seen 
presently. 


**The  western  half  of  Nantucket  was  sold  by  Wanackmam- 
ack,  February  20th,  1661. 

There  is  no  deed  to  prove  who  was  the  legitimate 
sachem,  if  any  existed,  of  the  Western  .section  of  Nan 
tucket,  but  a  section  west  of  Hummock  pond  apparently 
belonged  to  Nanahuma,  viz:  the  neck  which  bears  his 
name,  part  of  the  woods  to  the  north  of  it,  and  he  possibly 
may  have  had  a  proprietary  interest  in  the  large  plain 
further  west.  I  think  this  view  is  borne  out  in  the  "first 
Indian  Deed." 

In  this  deed  "the  plain"  is  evidently  immediately  wesf 
of  Nanahuma's  Neck  from  the  use  of  the  word  Acamy  in 
the  deed  ("on  the  other  side  of  the  water"),  and  its  local 
ity  is  further  fixed  by  the  description  of  its  position,  which 
agrees  almost  mathematically  with  its  exact  actual  posi 
tion.  *  I  am  sorry  to  differ  from  Mr.  Worth  when  he  says: 
"the  deed  of  Nanahuma  indicates  that  at  the  time  he  was 
sachem  over  the  west  end  of  Nantucket."  It  might  as 
truly  be  said  that  the  co-signer  was  sachem  over  the  west 
end  of  Nantucket,  which  we  know  he  never  was 


Vide  Ewer's  Map. 


23 

I  believe  that  Nanahuma  was  a  subsidiary  or  petty  local 
sachem,  tributary  to  Nickanoose,  and  that  all  the  property 
he  owned  as  a  sachem  was  restricted  within  the  limitations 
already  indicated.  This  is  confirmed  by  his  only  subse 
quent  deed,  dated  June  24th,  1678,  by  which  he  disposes  of 
'•all  his  interest  in  the  West  plains,  and  to  the  Neck  or 
long  woods"  to  the  English.  Besides,  according  to  the  de 
limitation  of  the  other  Sachems  as  already  given,  none  of 
them  interfered  with  those  just  mentioned  as  belonging  to 
Nanahuma. 

Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  Nanahuma  at  this  time 
owned  the  Neck  which  bore  his  name,  for,  on  July  4th, 
1664,  "all  the  fields  belonging  to  the  Neck"  were  sold  to 
the  English  by  Pakapanessa,  Jonas  Kimmo  and  Flarry,  son 
of  Wapakowet,  who  were  probably  residents  of  the  iden 
tical  "plain"  which  was  sold  by  Nanahuma  in  1659.  More 
over,  in  1667,  we  find  Nanahuma  associated  with  "Mr. 
Larry  Ahkeramo"  and  Obadiah  in  a  plea  to  the  Court  that 
"whereas  the  sachems  had  sold  the  ground  they  formerly 
lived  on  to  the  English,  the  said  sachems  would  not  enter 
tain  them  on  the  land  unsold."  Curiously  enough,  in  1678, 
we  find  George  Nanahuma,  alias  Cowpohanet,  selling  to 
the  English  "all  his  interest  in  the  West  plains,  and  to  the 
Neck  or  long  woods."  There,  verily,  seems  to  have  been 
a  joint  stock  company  in  these  lands! 

If  Potconet  had  no  jurisdiction  over  the  northwest  sec 
tion  of  Nantucket,  and  if  no  evidence  is  in  existence  as  to 
any  other  sachem  holding  predominant  rights  over  It,  may 
it  not  be  suggested  that  it  was  mainly  divided  up  into  re- 
allotments  for  the  Indians  who  were  dispossessed  by  the 
requirements  of  the  whites,  and  over  whom  subsidiary 
sachems  or  sagamores  were  appointed,  of  whom  there 
were  several?  Of  course,  this  is  a  mere  suggestion. 

We  talk  glibly  and  depreoatingly  of  the  poor  Indians  as 


24 

"mere  savages",  but  the  annals  of  American  history  afford 
but  few  instances  of  really  nobler  men  than  Massassoit, 
Passaconaway,  Samoset,  'and  Wanackmamack,  the  con 
trolling  Head  Sachem  of  Nantucket.  Had  it  not  been  for 
the  high  personal  qualities  of  such  men  New  England 
might  not  have  occupied  today  the  proud  position  which 
she  now  holds  among  the  United  States. 

The  venerable  Chief  Wanackmamack  was  not  only  the 
pride  and  glory  of  his  insular  braves,  but  the  tried,  true, 
and  loyal  friend  of  the  English  immigrants.  He  was  as 
kind-hearted  and  judicious  as  he  was  courageous  and  hign 
principled,  and  he  governed  his  home-land  so  ably  and  sat 
isfactorily  as  to  justify  his  memory  in  history  as  an  exem 
plary  ruler. 

Of  Wauwinet  little  is  known  but  that  he  was  very  old 
and  much  respected  when  the  settlers  arrived,  and  nothing, 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  has  been  said 
against  him. 

Nicornoose,  his  eldest  son  and  successor,  has  not  a  good 
record,  as  he  deserted  his  wife  and  children,  and  had  two 
children  by  another  woman. 

Beyond  the  fact  that  Autopscot  was  called  "a  great  war 
rior  and  got  his  land  by  his  bow",  and  that  he  perman 
ently  established  peace  throughout  the  island,  little  further 
is  recorded  of  him.  Nor  does  history  mention  anything 
concerning  Potconet,  the  sachem  ruling  the  proximate 
western  islands,  with  the  exception  of  a  record  of  the  sale 
of  his  lands  to  the  settlers,  in  1659.  Such  were  the  rulers 
of  Nantucket  when  the  settlers  arrived. 

What  a  revelation  the  incoming  of  the  whites  must  have 
been  to  the  red  men,  who  had  lived  on  the  island,  prob 
ably  from  a  very  early  age,  among  their  own  people,  under 
their  own  laws,  perpetuating  their  owrn  habits  and  cus 
toms — living  close  to  Nature — for  the  most  part  in  peace 


25 

and  amity — simple  in  their  lives,  and  knowing  nothing, 
caring  nothing  for  the  external  world  beyond  them! 

Yet,  on  the  arrival  of  the  new  people  who  had  come  to 
supplant  them,  they  received  them  amicably,  treated  them 
justly,  and  as  they  treated  one  another,  relying  upon  what 
they  recognized  as  the  instinctive  and  inalienable  princi 
ples  of  .humanity  to  govern  their  relationships  and  to  pro 
mote  the  mutual  good  and  harmony  of  all.  I  cannot  stop 
to  inquire  who  first  took  advantage  of  the  racial  differ 
ences  which  distinguished  these  two  peoples,  or  how  the 
greater  intellectuality  and  experience  of  the  one  eventually 
overcame  the  other,  but  Time  tells  the  story;  and  today, 
while  the  whites  glory  in  the  beautieis  of,  and  the  opportu 
nities  -afforded  by  their  island  home,  where  are  the  poor 
Indians,  the  aborigines?  All  gone — melted  away  like 
dew-drops  in  the  sun,  and  not  even  one  remains  to  tell  the 
story  of  their  past  history! 

The  number  of  settlers  who  had  arrived  from  Salisbury 
in  1660  and  1661  soon  began  to  make  themselves  comfort 
able  in  their  new  and  strange  environment,  while  the 
Indians  could  not  but  admire  the  novel  type  of  dwelling 
houses  which  the  new-comers  had  set  up  in  strange  con 
trast  with  the  humble  wigwams  of  the  aborigines;  indeed 
the  new  procedure  which  was  being  introduced  in  many 
directions  must  have  caused  them  much  surprise. 

For  a  time  the  English  and  the  Indians — the  civilized 
and  the  uncivilized — worked  together  amicably  for  the 
agricultural  development  of  the  island.  Together  they 
cleared  and  tilled  the  land  (for  the  most  part  existing  as 
a  primeval  wilderness),  settling  the  allotments,  cutting 
down  the  timber,  which  is  said  to  have  almost  covered  the 
island,  and  mutually  performing  the  numerous  farming 
operations  involved  in  the  reclamation  and  cultivation  of 
the  soil.  In  addition  to  farming  they  engaged  also  in  fish- 


26 

ing,  in  which  art  the  natives  were  expert.  Much  time  was 
also  devoted  to  the  raising  of  sheep,  and  thus  while  mu 
tual  forbearance  was  exercised,  mutual  trust  was  gen 
erated,  and  while  the  settlers  acted  faithfully  and  justly 
with  the  Indians,  the  latter  were  equally  loyal  in  the  dis 
charge  of  their  duties  in  their  new  relationships. 

When  King  Philip  visited  the  island  in  1665  and  tried 
to  induce  the  natives  to  join  in  his  contemplated  war  with 
the  English,  they  emphatically  refused  to  do  so,  expressing 
themselves  as  perfectly  satisfied  and  desiring  to  be  at 
peace  with  the  whites.  Indeed,  at  a  town  meeting,  on 
October  10th,  1665,  Attaychat  (Autopscot)  "signified  that 
himself  with  all  the  Tomokommoth  Indians  subject  to  the 
English  Government  in  Nantucket,  acknowledge  subjec 
tion  to  King  Charles  II.  This  was  done  in  the  presence 
of  Metacomet,  alias  Philip,  Sachem  of  Mount  Hop." 

Unfortunately,  civilization  has  too  often  brought  in  its 
wake  habits  and  customs  which  have  ever  proved  degen 
erative,  if  not  destructive  to  the  uncivilized  races  of  the 
earth,  and  so  they  proved  to  the  Indians,  who  were  sober, 
industrious,  and  happy  before  the  settlers  introduced 
among  them  the  iniquitous  "fire-water,"  to  the  abuse  of 
which  they  fell  a  prey.  Acting  under  its  pernicious  in 
fluence  their  primitive  instincts  were  aroused  within 
them,  and  never  afterwards  were  they  the  same  people 
Discontent  soon  spread  among  them,  and  litigation  in  the 
Courts — to  which  they  had  equal  access  with  the  whites — 
became  so  very  frequent  that  the  records  extend  from 
1673  to  1754. 

I  do  not  say  that  alcohol  was  at  the  bottom  of  all  these 
cases,  but  that  it  made  the  natives  excitable,  litigious 
and  dissatisfied  I  avow,  without  any  reference  to  the 
misconduct  and  crime  which  it  often  prompted,  and  which 
frequently  resulted  from  its  Influence.  In  many  cases 


27 

they  found  that  the  Courts  decided  against  them,  and 
they  became  discouraged.  Moreover,  they  were  astounded 
at  the  fastly-increasing  number  of  whites  on  the  island 
(so  that  offensive  measures  were  out  of  the  question), 
and  as  a  matter  of  fact  they  never  could  be  made  to 
understand  that  the  execution  of  a  sale-deed  of  their 
property  involved  its  absolute  surrender  to  the  purchaser, 
however  many  attempts  they  made  to  regain  their  land. 

Mr.  Thomas  Macy  wrote  a  forceful  letter  to  the  Gov 
ernor,  in  May,  1676,  as  to  the  pernicious  effects  of  drink 
upon  the  natives,  but  every  effort  made  to  mitigate  the 
evil  by  legislative  measures  failed;  the  natives  who  craved 
for  it  would  sacrifice  all  they  possessed,  and  one  way  and 
another,  they  generally  found  means  of  obtaining  it.  Fines 
and  whipping  were  the  modes  inflicted  for  drunkenness 
and  misdemeanors,  but  the  death-penalty  was  never  ex 
acted  except  in  cases  of  deliberate  murder.  It  is  recorded 
that,  between  1704  and  1769,  ten  natives  were  executed 
for  capital  crimes.* 

On  the  other  hand  it  has  been  stated  that  Quibby — who 
murdered  Harry  Gardner — was  the  first  and  only  Indian  exe 
cuted  in  Nantucket  since  its  settlement  by  the  whites. 
Macy's  instances,  however,  seem  well  substantiated.** 


*  Obed  Macy;  opus  cit. 
*  *  "Miriam  Coffin." 

In  thus  alluding  to  the  misconduct  of  the  natives  I  am 
merely  mentioning  facts  which  I  should  have  preferred  to 
pass  over,  but  in  justice  to  their  memory  it  must  be  said 
that  perhaps  the  majority  of  them  were  exemplary  in 
their  lives — many  of  them  pious — and  good  steady  hus 
bandmen  and  craftsmen.  As  a  race  they  have  been  much 
misrepresented,  and  if  revengeful,  it  was  only  when  their 
subduers  had  treated  them  cruelly  or  unjustly. 


28 

Spirited  efforts  had  been  made  to  introduce  Christianity 
among  the  natives,  and  the  results  on  Nantucket  were 
probably  more  successful  than  in  any  other  section  of 
New  England.  Thus,  Barber  (in  his  Historical  Collec 
tions,  page  448)  says:  "Soon  after  the  English  had  settled 
on  the  island,  attempts  were  made  to  convert  the  Indians 
to  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  and,  in  course  of  years,  all  of 
them  became  nominal  Christians." 

Soon  after  1680,  all  the  old  Sachems,  who  were  alive 
when  the  English  arrived  had  passed  away,  and  their 
successors  reigned  in  their  stead. 

As  Macy  says:  "The  Indians  were  instructed  in  the 
mode  of  fishing  practised  by  the  whites,  and,  in  return, 
the  whites  were  assisted  by  the  Indians  in  pursuing  the 
business."  Another  writer  says:  "There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  Natick  Indians  hunted  the  whale  in  canoes,  in  a  man 
ner  somewhat  similar  to  that  practised  today  by  the  Bow- 
Meaders  of  the  north  coast  of  Siberia."  Moreover,  I  have 
been  personally  informed  by  a  gentleman  of  much  culture 
and  experience  who  knows  as  much  about  the  Nantucket 
Whaling  industry  as  any  man  now  alive,  that  "hunting 
the  whale  was  well-known  and  long  practised  by  the  Nan 
tucket  Indians."  If  any  further  evidence  is  deemed  neces 
sary  it  may  be  found  in  the  following  quotation  from 
Wey mouth's  Voyage:  "One  especial  thing  in  their  manner 
of  killing  a  whale  which  they  (the  Indians)  call  powdawe, 
and  will  describe  his  form,  how  he  bloweth  up  the  water, 
and  that  he  is  twelve  fathoms  long,  and  that  they  go  in 
company  with  their  King,  with  a  multitude  of  their  boats, 
and  strike  him  with  a  bone  made  in  the  fashion  of  a  harp 
ing  iron,  fastened  to  a  rope,  which  they  make  great  and 
strong  of  the  bark  of  trees  which  they  veer  out  after  him; 
that  all  their  boats  come  about  him,  and  as  he  riseth 
above  water,  with  their  arrows  they  shoot  him  to  death. 


29 

When  they  have  killed  him  and  dragged  him  to  shore, 
they  call  all  their  chief  lords  together,  and  sing  a  song  of 
joy,  and  these  chief  lords,  whom  they  call  sagamores, 
divide  the  spoil  and  give  to  every  man  a  share;  which 
pieces  so  distributed  they  hang  up  about  their  houses  for 
provision,  and  when  they  boil  them  they  blow  off  the  fat. 
and  put  in  their  pease,  maize  and  other  pulse  which  they 
eat." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Nantucket  Indians  joined 
gladly  in  the  chase  of  whales,  and  that  they  were  fully  as 
dexterous  as  the  whites,  not  only  in  securing,  but  in  dealing 
with  the  carcasses  afterwards. 

The  year  1763-4  was,  indeed,  a  sad  one  for  the  Indians 
of  Nantucket,  inasmuch  as,  from  August  in  the  former 
year  to  February  in  the  latter,  they  suffered  from  a  ma 
lignant  form  of  epidemic  which,  even  yet,  has  not  been 
identified,  although  the  probability  is  that  it  was  either 
typhus  or  typhoid  fever,  small-pox  or  yellow  fever.  Curi 
ously  enough,  of  the  English  who  visited  them  daily,  caring 
for  and  nursing  the  afflicted  natives,  not  one  was  affected 
by  the  pestilence,  which  ceased  suddenly,  without  previous 
abatement,  on  the  16th  of  February,  1764.  Before  the 
epidemic  broke  out  there  were  358  Indians  on  the  island, 
of  whom  222  perished,  leaving  only  136  natives  to  repre 
sent  the  race.* 


*  Obed,  Macy;  opus  cit. 

In  1791  there  were  but  four  male  Indians  and  sixteen 
females  left  on  the  island,  and  in  1809  there  were  only 
three  or  four  persons  of  pure  blood  and  a  few  of  mixed 
race. 

From  1664  to  1774  the  records  consist  mainly  of  land- 
sales  from  the  Indians  to  the  English;  of  complaints  of 
one  Indian  against  another,  or  others  in  relation  to  land- 


30 

sales,  and  of  controversies  about  their  respective  claims 
to  whales.  Within  this  period  also  one  repeatedly  notices 
the  names  of  the  successors  of  the  old  sachems,  for  sev 
eral  generations;  but,  concurrently  with  these,  up  to  1754, 
are  the  records  of  many  attempts  on  the  part  of  some  of 
the  Indians  to  regain  their  lands. 

The  perusal  of  these  is  very  interesting,  but  I  can  only 
refer  those  who  may  desire  to  obtain  a  full  knowledge  of 
such  matters  to  the  ample  and  careful  reports  given  by 
Mr.  Henry  B.  Worth  in  the  Bulletins  of  the  Nantucket 
Historical  Association.* 


*  Vide.  Vol  II.  Bulletin  3. 

In  1693  the  island  of  Nantucket,  ceded  from  the  Provin 
cial  Government  of  New  York,  was  incorporated  IR  the 
State  of  Massachusetts. 

Names  of  Some  of  the  Nantucket  Indians  Occurring  in  the 
Registry  of  Deeds,  Petitions,   Etc. 

Wanackmamack,  Head  Sachem  of  Nantucket  in  1659. 
Wauwinet,  aged  Head  Sachem  of  Northeastern  section. 
Nicornoose,  successor  to  Wauwinet. 

Autopscot  (Attapechat  or  Attaychat),  Sachem  of  South 
western  section. 

Potconet  (or  Pottacohannet),  Sachem  of  Tuckernuck,  etc. 
Nanahuma,  probably  a  petty  Sachem. 
Harry,  a  witness,  son  of  Wapakowet. 
Wauwinnesit,  or  Amos,  second  son  of  Nicornoose. 
'Saucoauso,  alias  Jeptha,  son  of  Wanackmamack. 
Joshua  Jethro,  eldest  son  of  Nicornoose. 
Wat  Noose,  bastard  son  of  Nicornoose, 
Paul  Noose,  bastard  son  of  Nicornoose. 
Masauquet,  son  of  Autopscot. 
Harry  Poritain,  alias  Beretan.  son  of  Masauquet. 
Isaac  Masauquet,  son  of  Harry  Poritain. 


31 

Askommopoo,  daughter  of  Nicornoose  and  wife  of  Spotso 
or  Spoospotswa. 

Felix  Kuttashamaquah,  an  interpreter. 

Cain,  son  of  Saucoauso  or  Jeptha. 

Abel,  son  of  Saucoauso  or  Jeptha. 

Ben  Abel,  son  of  Abel. 

Eben  Abel,  son  of  Abel. 

Jemima,  daughter  of  Cain,  and  wife  of  James  Shea. 

Pakapanessa,  Indian  associated  with  Nanahuma. 

Jonas  Kimmo,  Indian  associated  with  Nanahuma. 

Tequamomany,  sold  solds  to  English  in  1604. 

Mekowakim,  sold  lands  to  English  in  1604. 

Peteson,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Larry  Akkeramo,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Obadiah,  a  complainer,  1667. 

Wequakesuk,  a  sachem,  1673. 

Isaac  Wauwinet,  son  of  Nicornoose,  successor  of  father, 

Heattohanen,  another  name  for  one  of  Nicornoose's  sons. 

Wohwaninwot,   another   name  for   one   of   Nicornoose's 
sons. 

Cowpohanet,  another  name  of  Nanahuma. 

Spotso,  son-in-law  of  Nicornoose,  signed  also  as  Spoos 
potswa. 

Sasapana  Will,  sold  land  to  the  English.  1637. 
Henry  Britten,  Sachem,  1701. 
Eastor,  wife  of  Saucoauso,  1709. 
Joshiah  or  Josiah,  son  of  Spotso. 
James  S.hay,  Shea,  or  Shaa,  husband  of  Jemima. 
Esau  Cook,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1742. 
Isaac  Woosco,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1745. 
Samuel  Chegin,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1747. 
Titus  Zekey,  an  Indian  who  sold  land,  1762. 
John  Jethro,  a  descendant  of  Nicornoose. 
Abigail  Jethro,  a  descendant  of  Joshua  Jethro,  son  of 
Nicornoose. 


32 

Jacob,  son  of  Potconet,  1672. 

Ahkeiman,  son  of  Potconet,  1676. 

Desire,  or  Desiah,  a  partner  of  Washaman,  in  whales. 
1676. 

Waquaheso,  related  to  Nicornoose. 

Wakeikman,  Sessanuquis,  Wienakisoo,  three  associated 
Indians,  1678. 

Nautakagin,  a  companion  of  Nanahuma,  1678. 

Quench,  an  Indian  who  divorced  his  wife,  1677. 

Mequash,  an  Indian  with  whaling  rights,  1678. 

Miachoogen,  an  Indian  burglar,  1677. 

Debdekooat,  a  fraudulent  creditor,  1677. 

Shaakerune,  an  anti-prohibitionist,  1677. 

Seikinow,  a  complainer,  1699-1700. 

Titus  Mamack,  Joshua  Mamack,  John  Mamack,  descend 
ants  of  Wanackmamack. 

Jou«ab,  descendant  of  Wanackmamack. 

John  Jouab,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

Jonathan,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

James  Asab,  a  disgruntled  complainer. 

John  Tashime  (Tashama),  a  descendant  of  Autopscot 

John  Jethro,  a  petitioner. 

Paul  Jouab,  a  petitioner. 

Richard  Napanah,  a  petitioner. 

Solomon  Zachariah,  a  petitioner. 

Naubgrachas,  a  petitioner. 

Abel  Nanahoo,  a  petitioner. 

John  Asab,  a  petitioner. 

Barnabas  Spotso,  Sachem. 

James  Papamoo,  son  of  Barnabas  Spotso. 

John  Quass,  the  choice  of  Lakedon  Indians  for  Sachem, 
when  they  repudiated  Ben  Abel,  the  legitimate  chief. 

Sanchimaish,  a  witness  to  Isaac  Wauwinett's  will. 

Abram  Tashama,  son  of  John  Tashama,  1741. 


33 


Old  Hannah,  a  witness. 

Ben  Jouab,  grandson  of  Pampason,  1752. 

Memfopooh,  a  messenger,  1752. 

Oowamassen,  a  witness  to  Isaac  Wauwinnett's  will,  1670. 

Joshua  of  Chappoquiddick,  same  as  Joshua  Jethro,  eldest 

son  of  Nicornoose,  1706. 
Talagamomos,    Keostahhan,    Wumoanohquin,    Quaquah- 

choonit,  witnesses  to  Nicornoose's  will,  1668. 
Ben   Joab    Pampushom,    a    claimant   to    Sachemdom    of 

Occ-awa,  1745. 

Peter  Tuphouse,  witness  to  Pampushom's  petition. 
Peleg  Tuphouse,  witness  to  Pampushom's  petition. 
David  Pompasson,  said  to  have  been  a  grandson  of 

Ni'cornoose. 
Samuel  Humbrey,   a  witness  to  John  Jouab's   petition, 

1752. 


Petty  crimes  and  misdemeanors  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians — too  often  caused  by  "fire-water" —  frequently  re 
sulted  in  producing  considerable  trouble  and  annoyance  to 
the  proprietors,  and  when  they  found  that  the  imposition 
of  fines  and  the  infliction  of  whipping  in  graver  cases  were 
inadequate  to  permanently  restrain  them,  they  at  length 
appointed  a  superior  Indian  to  undertake  the  office  of  su 
perintendent  and  local  magistrate,  and  with  considerable 
success.  The  officer  appointed  was  James  Shouel,  better 
known  as  Korduda  and  he  soon  became  a  terror  to  evil 
doers,  his  usual  procedure  being,  when  one  Indian  com 
plained  of  another,  to  order  both  the  complainant  and  the 
defendant  to  be  well  whipped.  This  subsequently  became 
known  as  "Korduda's  law,"  and  in  many,  if  not  in  most 
cases,  it  was  found  very  effective.  He  was  also  in  the 


34 

habit   of  having   delinquents   whipped   for   neglecting   the 
cultivation  of  their  corn,  for  drunkenness,  etc. 

A  few  other  special  Indians  are  referred  to  in  Zac- 
cheus  Macy's  well-known  letter,  viz.:  "Old  Aesop,"  the 
weaver,  who  was  also  a  schoolmaster;  "Old  Saul,"  "a 
stern-looking  old  man;"  Richard  Nominash  and  his 
brother  Sampson  and  little  Jethro,  who  are  described  as 
"very  substantial  &nd  very  trusty  men;"  Zacchary  Hoite. 
a  minister  who  told  his  hearers  "they  must  do  as  he  said, 
but  not  as  he  did ! "  There  were  also  some  members  of 
the  old  Hoight  and  Jafet  families,  and  Benjamin  Tashama, 
an  Indian  of  strong  individuality,  to  whom  I  shall  now 
refer  in  detail. 

Benjamin  Tashama,  or  Tashima,  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
noted  Indian  within  the  bounds  of  Autopscot.  He  was  a 
grandson  of  Sachem  Autopscot,  and  was  distinguished  as  a 
good  and  worthy  man,  an  esteemed  preacher,  and  a  success 
ful  schoolmaster.  "A  portion  of  the  industrious  life  of 
Tashima, "  says  the  author  of  "Miriam  Coffin,"  "had  been 
devoted  to  study;  and  he  had  succeeded,  with  infinite  labour, 
in  adapting  his  literary  acquirements  to  the  language  and 
capacity  of  his  tribe.  He  had  nourished  the  vain  hope  of 
preserving  the  nation  without  a  cross  in  its  blood,  and  the 
language  of  his  people  in  its  pristine  purity.  It  was  a  mag 
nificent  conception!  The  design  was  worthy  of  the  last,  as  he 
was  the  greatest,  chief  of  his  tribe.  He  was  the  last,  because 
none  succeeded  him;  he  was  the  greatest,  for  he  was  the  most 
benevolent."  While  few  details  of  his  life  are  known  it 
is  attested  that  he  latterly  lived  on  the  eastern  boundary 
of  Gibbs'  swamp,  about  forty  rods  northeast  of  the  fifth 
milestone  on  the  'Sconset  road.  Here,  some  years  ago,  the 
cellar  of  his  dwelling  still  remained,  and  the  large  stone 
which  formed  the  entrance  may  now  be  seen  in  the  rooms 
of  the  Nantucket  Historical  Association. 


35 

Here  Tashama,  often  called  "the  last  Sachem  of  Nan- 
tucket,"  dwelt  with  his  son  Isaac  and  his  daughter  Sarah. 
Benjamin  Tashama  died  in  1770.  His  brother,  John  Tash 
ama,  was  alive  in  1754,  when  he  signed  a  petition  to  the 
court.  John  had  one  son,  Abram,  mentioned  by  John 
Coffin  and  Abishai  Folger  in  a  report  dated  May  25th, 
1743. 

Sarah  Tashama  married  Isaac  Earop,  and  on  April  27th, 
1776,  a  daughter  was  born  to  them.  She  was  named  Dorcas 
Honorable.  When  this  child  grew  up  she  became  a  do 
mestic  in  the  family  of  Mr.  John  Cartwright,  where  she 
lived  for  many  years,  and  she  died  in  1822.* 

*  For  these  facts  I  am  indebted  to  a  statement  made  by  Mr 
Franklin  Folger  in   May,     1743.      Vide   "Inquirer     and     Mirror". 
October  29,  1910. 

She  was  a  full-blooded  Indian,  and  the  very  last  of  her 
race  on  Nantucket;  and  thus,  little  more  than  two  cen 
turies  from  the  discovery  of  the  island,  passed  away  the 
only  remaining  one  of  the  aboriginal  people  who  had  dom 
inated  it  from  time  immemorial. 

Abram  Api  Quady  or  Quary,  a  half-breed,  who  lived  in  a 
hut  at  Shimmo  for  many  years,  died  in  1855  at  the  age  of 
83,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  the  son  of  the 
notorious  Quibby,  already  referred  to,  and  of  Judith  Quary — 
a  half-breed  fortune-teller  well-known  on  the  island  at  one 
time.  Abram,  for  obvious  reasons,  chose  to  assume  his 
mother's  name.  A  fine  portrait  in  oil  of  this  dignified  old 
man  may  be  seen  in  the  Nantucket  Atheneum. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  no  burial  place  of  the  Indians 
has  been  discovered  on  the  island  of  Nantucket,  so  far  as 
I  am  aware.  Skeletal  remains  and  a  few  bones  have  been 
discovered  at  one  time  and  another,  and  in  various  places, 
but  I  believe  no  regular  place  of  Indian  burial  has  ever 
been  found.  This  may  be  thus  accounted  for,  viz.: 


36 

Island  Indians  usually  buried  their  dead  contiguous  to 
the  coast-line,  and  the  progressive  erosion  of  the  coast 
during  two  centuries  may  have  possibly  washed  such  re 
mains  into  the  ocean.  This  is  merely  a  suggestion,  and  as 
I  have  but  few  proofs  to  offer,  I  am  subject  to  correction. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  Indians  buried  their  dead 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Shawkemo,  Pocomo,  Folger's  Hill 
on  the  Polpis  road,  at  Quaise,  beyond  the  present  water 
works,  and  at  or  near  Miacomet.  It  is  recorded  that  there 
was  a  circular  burying-ground  for  one  of  the  tribes  near  the 
head-waters  of  Lake  Miacomet,  and  that  Benjamin  Tashama 
was  buried  there. 

An  opinion  too  generally  shared,  which  regards  the 
American  Indian  race  as  consisting  of  mere  savages,  al 
most  inhuman  in  their  ferocity  and  cruelty,  and  without  a 
redeeming  feature  of  any  kind,  is  as  untrue  as  it  is  unjust. 
They  naturally  possessed  those  characteristics  shared  by 
all  unenlightened  races  of  men  who  have  been  deprived  of 
the  elevating  influences  of  civilization  and  a  high  code  of 
ethics,  but  a  careful  study  of  their  lives  and  history  shows 
that,  according  to  their  enlightenment,  they  were  actuated 
by  many  virtues  which,  in  superior  races,  count  for  digni 
fied  manhood  and  nobility  of  mind.  In  personal  bravery 
and  courage  they  had  few  equals  and  yet  they  accepted 
conquest  or  punishment  with  a  sublime  fortitude  and  sto 
icism  which  scorned  to  ask  for  either  life  or  pardon. 
Equality,  freedom,  and  independence  constituted  the  very 
atmosphere  of  their  being  and,  in  their  dealings  with  their 
own  race,  the  rights  of  each  individual,  and  his  personal 
freedom,  were  universally  acknowledged.  Judged  from 
our  modern  standard  the  principles  of  morality  which  gov 
erned  their  lives,  if  of  a  lower  order,  were  yet  in  keeping 
with  their  instincts  and  their  environment,  and  they  be 
lieved  that  "the  crimes  of  the  vicious  were  punished  by 


37 

the  disgrace,  contempt  and  danger  they  ensured  for  trans 
gressors." 

When  all  that  can  be  said  against  the  Indians  has  been 
spoken  it  must  be  conceded  that  they  embodied  a  pure  and 
lofty  patriotism,  for  which  they  fought  and  died  like  men 
and  true  patriots,  and  although  they  had  to  gradually  yield 
up  their  possessions  and  their  homes  in  the  land  they 
loved,  and  to  recede  and  disappear  before  the  advancing 
wave  of  civilization,  yet,  as  De  Forest  says:  "We  may  drop 
a  tear  over  the  grave  of  the  race  which  has  perished,  and 
regret  that  civilization  and  'Christianity  have  ever  accom 
plished  so  little  for  its  amelioration." 

In  the  somewhat  severe  words  of  Obed  Macy,  "Their  only 
misfortune  was  their  connection  with  Christians,  and  their 
only  crime  the  imitation  of  their  manners." 

In  conclusion,  I  venture  to  make  two  suggestions,  one 
a  minor  and  the  other  a  major  one.  Would  it  not  be  ex 
pedient  and  appropriate  on  the  part  of  the  Nantucketers 
to  erect  a  tablet  over  the  grave  of  "Dorcas,"  the  last  of 
the  aborigines?  The  residents  of  "the  little  purple  island," 
I  think,  owe  so  much  to  the  memories  associated  with  her 
vanished  race. 

Or,  now  that  Nan  tucket  is  becoming,  increasingly,  year 
by  year,  a  fashionable  ocean-bound  sea-resort,  would  it 
not  be  possible  to  carry  out  the  suggestion  made  by  an 
off -islander,  as  far  back  as  1881  at  the  Commemoration  of 
the  200th  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Tristram  Coffin,  to 
erect  by  public  subscription  "a  towering  statue  In  dusky 
bronze,  representing  the  venerable  Indian  Sachem,  Wa- 
nackmamack,  the  tried  and  true  friend  of  the  original 
purchasers  of  the  island?"  The  island  certainly  owes  this 
illustrious  Chief  a  debt  of  gratitude,  for  it  was  almost 
entirely  due  to  his  benign  influences  that  the  "silent  peo 
ple  of  the  forest"  and  the  strangers  lived  in  peace  and 


38 


amity  together,  and  thus  expedited  the  dawn  of  civilization 
without  an  obstacle  within  its  boundaries.  I  have  spoken, 
and  I  leave  these  suggestions  to  the  islanders  for  reflec 
tion,  with  every  fond  wish  for  their  prosperity  and  success. 


UNIVERSITY  OF 


DEPARTMENT 

— — 

3 


Photomount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc. 

Makers 
Stockton,  Calif. 

PH.  W.  21, 1908 


LIBRARY.  Uc 


BERKELEY 


859572 

prt 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


